For years, the mainstream travel industry has overlooked the needs and stories of Black travelers. But a growing number of Black-led travel groups are shifting the narrative—creating space for cultural connection, community and global exploration on their own terms.
Author Archives: Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer
Megan Sayles is a business reporter for The Baltimore Afro-American paper. Before this, Sayles interned with Baltimore Magazine, where she wrote feature stories about the city’s residents, nonprofits and initiatives. Her love of music inspired her to be a writer. At a young age she realized it was not the melody that she was so infatuated with, but the lyrics that made up the song and connected with listeners. Sayles grew up in Pasadena, Maryland, and is a 2021 graduate of the University of Maryland, where for her senior capstone project she reported on how the coronavirus and inequality intersected in Baltimore. She also worked as a staff writer and copy editor for campus publications, including Stories Beneath the Shell and The Black Explosion. Sayles teamed up with a partner to report on how the pandemic had put many more responsibilities on the oldest child in families. The Associated Press and other news organizations picked up her story.
Posted inPolitics
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation prepares for 54th Annual Legislative Conference in D.C.
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 54th Annual Legislative Conference returns to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 24, bringing together policymakers, thought leaders and activists to tackle pressing issues facing Black communities. With sessions on health, education, economic empowerment and social justice, as well as signature events, like the National Town Hall and Phoenix Awards, the conference spotlights strategies for advancing equity and celebrates Black leadership.
Posted inBaltimore News
Unlocking sickle cell mysteries: Dr. Ambroise Wonkam speaks on genetic modifiers and patient outcomes
Dr. Ambroise Wonkam, director of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins, has dedicated his career to studying genetic variation in African populations and its impact on conditions like sickle cell disease. He explains how African-specific genetic modifiers could unlock new treatments, not just for sickle cell patients, but for improving healthcare globally.
Posted inBUSINESS
From 9-to-5 to business owner: Two women share their path to entrepreneurship
After years of working traditional jobs, Tiffany Veney and Leslie Frelow took a leap of faith to launch their own businesses. Now, they’re carving out space in industries where Black women are often underrepresented—construction and wine.
Posted inUncategorized
When the weather— and the market— turns against you: Black farmers speak out
Fourth-generation farmers John W. Boyd and Jermaine Walker are battling the growing impacts of extreme weather on their crops, from delayed planting to submerged fields. On top of climate challenges, trade tariffs and canceled government programs are making it harder for them to turn a profit and sustain their farms.
Posted inBlack History
Harlem Hellfighters posthumously awarded Congressional Gold Medal for World War I valor
The Harlem Hellfighters, a segregated African-American unit, spent 191 days in front-line combat during World War I without yielding any ground. Decades later, Congress awarded the unit the Congressional Gold Medal, honoring their unmatched valor and long-overdue recognition.
Posted inNational News
Cracker Barrel bends to White backlash as Target ignores Black demands
The Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant is known for highlighting racial equity issues in corporate America. Now, he’s speaking out about how quickly Cracker Barrel reversed its logo change for White customers, compared to Target’s refusal to reinstate DEI initiatives despite months of sustained pressure from the Black community. He continues to lead a nationwide boycott and calls for accountability from the retailer.
Posted inBUSINESS
Beverly Richards launches family soap business to honor late mother
Baltimore native Beverly Richards launched MFrank Apothecary, a luxury goat milk soap company, to honor her late mother while creating a family legacy. Each bar is hand-poured with natural ingredients, crafted by Richards and her children and grandchildren to nourish skin and celebrate tradition, love and artistry.
Posted inBUSINESS
Lighting the way: How Nailah Queen mentors Black women on growth and resilience
Baltimore native Nailah Queen is a serial entrepreneur whose career spans travel, wellness, beauty, and business coaching. In this Q&A, she shares how her own journey shaped her approach to mentoring Black women, offering advice on scaling businesses, overcoming challenges and building legacies.
Posted inBUSINESS
From roots to remedies: How two entrepreneurs are preserving ancestral herbal knowledge
Herbalism, one of the oldest forms of medicine in the world, has deep roots in Africa and the Caribbean. Black women entrepreneurs Monica Joseph and Shalita O’Neale are keeping that ancestral knowledge alive—growing herbs, creating natural products and teaching their communities about the healing power of plants.
Posted inBaltimore News
As Amtrak builds Frederick Douglass Tunnel, West Baltimore residents push back
West Baltimore resident Tahera Arrington says Amtrak’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel project has upended her life—bringing dust, noise, pests, and damage to her home. Now, she fears displacement and the loss of the community she’s lived in since childhood.
Posted inHealth
Licensed but locked out: Why Vilissa Thompson built her own path in disability advocacy
Vilissa Thompson was on track to become a therapist, but after realizing the social work field wasn’t built for wheelchair users like herself, she took a different route. Now, as founder of Ramp Your Voice, she’s creating space for Black disabled women and femmes to be heard, supported and politically empowered.